I’ve been waiting to be able to tell people this and now I finally can.

My family and I feel called to move to the Cincinnati area to plant a church with Paul Peterson!

We made the decision to move in August 2007 but we had to keep it quiet until now. It is so exciting. Everything seemed to fall into place perfectly to make the decision easy. There is a lot of great things that I will learn from this experience and I can’t wait to see what God shows me through it.

As I continue my journey with colon cancer, I need to stop every once in awhile and say an enormous THANK YOU to everyone who has support me and my family through this. Since today is Thoughts and Thank You Thursday here at AC180, I am taking advantage of it.

Thank you is a trite expression, but the only expression that I can return to those who have helped in so many ways. My thought and wish is that I can pay it forward one day. The support has been way too overwhelming. This blogging community has given us prayer support that is immeasurable, and I thank you. My circle of friends that have walked beside me every step of the way, I thank you. My church that has reached out to us, I thank you. My wife, who has been by my side through every bit of breaking news, hospital stay, chemo treatment, doctor appointment, good days and bad days, I thank you. My children, who have seen their dad go through some rough stuff and have been able to keep their heads on straight and also keep their sense of humor, I thank you. My God, who has allowed me the opportunity to go on this journey and who has allowed me another day, I thank you.

So, 2008 is here. A new chapter has begun in everyone’s life. So what does this year have in store for you? New job, new home, new addition to the family, new challenges, new hope…

Let me pose a challenge for you. Colossians 3:23 says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”

These are simple words, but hard to practice. I get so caught up in what I am doing, that I think I am doing everything for me, my family, whoever. I need to know and refocus on everything that I do must be unto the Lord. With out Him, I have no abilities, no goals, no anything. God must be my focus and I need to do everything for Him. The rest will fall into place.

“You have criticized me sharply,” says the Lord, “but you ask, ‘How have we criticized you?’ You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God. How have we been helpedby keeping his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord who rules over all? So now we consider the arrogant to be happy; indeed, those who practice evil are successful. In fact, those who challenge God escape!’”

But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sistersloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginningfor salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. He called you to this salvationthrough our gospel, so that you may possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brothers and sisters,stand firm and hold on to the traditions that we taught you, whether by speech or by letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen youin every good thing you do or say.